Bengal makes progress in fisheries sector

Bengal makes progress in fisheries sector

Posted on April 26, 2016 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

In the last four and a half years, the fisheries sector has witnessed huge development and progress.

From an increase in production of fish to bringing more areas under production, Bengal has made great strides.

Similarly, the Ma, Mati, Manush government has taken several initiatives for the social security and welfare of fishermen. The fisheries sector also received investments to the tune of Rs 1000 crore.

Here are some notable achievements of the fisheries department:

Production of Fish: Number of big water bodies where fish production started has increased from 0 during 2007-2011 to 810 during 2011-2015. In order to increase production of fish during the indicated period about 1000 lakh fish fingerlings have been distributed in 33000 water bodies under various schemes

Growth in production: Nutritionally balanced floating feed have been supplied (8741.94 Ton) free of cost to 13,000 fish farmers for the first time in West Bengal with a financial involvement of Rs. 23 crore (approx) to encourage and popular use of formulated feed for growth.

Bringing more area under pisciculture: Fish fingerlings have been released in about 23000 ponds excavated under “Jal Dharo Jal Bharo” programe to cover more area under pisciculture in last four years.

Social welfare initiatives: Several social welfare schemes have been implemented in last four years for the socio-economic upliftment of fishermen community, like distribution of JAL-HUNDI: 3600 unit, DWELLING HOUSE: 13000, INSULATED BOX: 33000, CYCLE WITH BOX: 6820, MATSYAJAN: 1237, Pension @ Rs. 1000/- per month are given for 8500 old fishermen.

Safety and security for marine fishermen: The safety and security of marine fishermen have been taken by introducing biometric ID cards, distress alert transmitters.

Investment Promotion Unit and other activity: For encouraging investment in fisheries sector a dedicated cell “Investment Promotion Unit” have been set up during 2014-15. Investment proposal to the tune of Rs. 999.60 crores has already been received.

Image Source: indiamike.com

Three-day ‘Fish Fest’ in Kolkata from today

Posted on December 18, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

The State Fisheries Development Corporation (SFDC), in association with the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and state fisheries department, will celebrate its golden jubilee by organising a three-day ‘Fish Fest’ from December 18 to 20 at Nalban Food Park in Salt Lake.

The aim is to showcase and promote the fisheries industry with an aim to increase fish productivity in the state and to attract more investments in the sector.

SFDC have been taking up a number of activities in the recent past to develop the state’s fisheries sector. The event will be organised to promote fisheries in the government and corporate sectors. There will be a food court that will serve various fish dishes, like Vietnam sheat fish, basa, apart from more familiar dishes.

Representatives of several other state fisheries development boards will also be present during the three-day event. Fish medicine will also be a highlight at the event.

State Fisheries Dept takes steps to boost fish production in north Bengal

Posted on October 31, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

State fisheries department has taken several measures to augment fish production in North Bengal.

Mr Chandranath Sinha, Minister for State Fisheries department said that since fish production in North Bengal is low, the fisheries department has taken up several measures to augment the fish production.

There will be free distribution of the fishlings (small fish) for fish cultivation and already fisheries department has started to put fishlings into rivers and Government ponds. “We would also distribute free food for feeding small fishes. Fish farmers will be trained how to apply scientific methods to cultivate fishes,” he said.

Mr Sinha said that officials of the fisheries department have observed that most of the fish cultivators did not feed the fish sufficiently, so growth of the fishes is not up to the mark. “We shall also set up awareness camps to inform the farmers how to detect diseases of the fishes and boost fish growth,” he said. The department has already chosen some government ponds for cultivating fish.

Fish fry were put into the government ponds in Jalpaiguri, Dhupguri and Maynaguri a few days ago and more government ponds will be used for this purpose. Fish fry were put into the rivers like Teesta, Torsha, Kaljani, Karla, Jaldhaka and Sankosh. Rs 5.25 lakhs has already been spent for this purpose. And Rs 8 lakh was spent for introducing fish fry in government ponds.

Awareness campaigns in local areas has been started where tea gardens exist, so that people learn to avoid using the river water to clean the spray machines after using them for pest control purposes.

Currently, around 6000 ton of fish are produced in Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts annually.

India’s first fish hospital to come up in Kolkata

Posted on June 23, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

A fish hospital — the first of its kind in the country — will become operational in Kolkata in two-three months. The hospital, with facilities to diagnose and treat ailments in fish commercially bred in the state, will help farmers increase their produce.

The building has already been constructed and electrical work is in progress. The aim of the hospital will be to find out what ailments the fish bred in the state suffer from and help farmers increase the yield. The hospital is coming up at Panchasayar’s Chakgaria in Kolkata.

The facility comprises 50 glass aquariums and 25 circular water tanks to house the fish. The hospital will first diagnose and treat fish that are bred by farmers. At a later stage, efforts may be made to find out ailments that wild fish, caught along Bengal’s coast, suffer from.

Farmers can approach the hospital whenever they suspect a problem with their fish. They can report abnormalities like change in colour or size. They can even bring in samples for diagnosis and treatment.

Warning system being installed for the safety of fishermen in Bengal

Posted on May 30, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Distress Alert Transmitters (DAT) are being installed on trawlers so that fishermen can alert the authorities of any danger at sea. Till now about 1000 such DAT have been installed, another 1500 such will be installed soon. This information was provided by the Minister of Fisheries Chandranath Singh during Question Hour in the Assembly on Thursday.

He also added that as on April 30, 2015, 17516 fishermen have been handed bio-metric ID cards near the Sunderbans whereas a total of 1,48,971 bio-metric ID cards have been distributed all over the state.

The minister also announced that in case a fisherman dies due to an attack by pirates, the family of the diseased will be given Rs 2 lakh.

Chandranath Singh also said that 10,583 fishing nets have been e-registered already. He also mentioned that the fishermen are given Rs 600 per month when it is off season for fishing as financial assistance.

A pension scheme has also been started for fishermen. The minister admitted that there is an issue with the fishing permit issued by the forest department.

Breakthrough in Hilsa production in Bengal

Posted on February 6, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

The West Bengal Fisheries Department has taken up an initiative to supply Hilsa fish, the savoury for Bengali taste buds, throughout the year.

Now Bengalis will not have to wait till monsoon to have their favourite fish. To make Hilsa available round the year the Scientists of Kakdwip’s Institute of Aqua Culture have come up with an innovative method of cultivating Hilsa in tank water with induced salinity. The research process started way back in October – November 2013.

Initially, the scientists failed to save the seedlings but after making changes in the salinity content of the water and bringing changes in the feed, they met with success. Some apprehensions have been expressed if the unique taste of the fish will be retained as it travels through Pacific Ocean before coming to the shores of Bengal, scientists are hopeful as the feed consists of ‘phytoplankton’, the taste will be intact.

In the past, WB CM Ms Mamata Banerjee had sent letters to the erstwhile Prime Minister asking him to take steps to bring down the price of Hilsa imported from Bangladesh.

Also, to shore up sharply falling yields of Hilsa, the Bengal CM had promised alternative employment and rice at Rs 2 a kg to around 200,000 fishermen to ensure they don’t catch it during the breeding season.